Refrigerator



31, 1935. J. McCANN REFRIGERATOR Filed May 14, 1932 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 inn 2,025,761 REFRIGERATOR.

Application May 14, 1932, Serial No. 611,395 16 Claims. (c1. 62-1085) My invention relates to mechanical refrigerators andmore particularly it relates to a device for facilitating the removal of ice cube trays from mechanical refrigerators.

It is 'well known that considerable difiiculty is encountered in loosing and removing ice cube trays from the freezing unit of household mechanical refrigerators. This inconvenience is caused by the formation of ice between the trays and freezing unit causing the trays to firmly adhere to the unit. Heretofore it has been the common practice to loosen the trays by inserting a pointed kitchen utensil between the trayand the freezing unit and pry the tray from the unit. Such practice damages both the trays and the freezing unit and is often ineffective, and um mately requiring the use of heat to loosen the trays. Other means, such as cam and lever devices, built into the freezing unit have been proposed for loosening the trays but have met with little success because the devices themselves become frozen tight and are very difficult to operate. Morever these devices are expensive to manufacture because it is necessary to reconstruct the entire freezing unit in order to install them.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved device conveniently mounted in the refrigerator which will easily loosen and remove ice cube trays from the refrigerator without injury to either the refrigerator or the trays.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this class which may be quickly and easily installed in a refrigerator, at any time, and in such a manner that it will not be in the way,

' nor become frozen to the freezing unit, when not in use.

Another object of my invention resides in an improved ice cube tray removing device which is compact, durable and simple-of construction, economical to manufacture, readily installed in a standard refrigerator, and easy and efficient in operation.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention willbe apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein several embodiments of my invention are illustrated. It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments herein illustrated and described, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a r mechanical refrigerator embodying my inven-. tion;

This connecting member is preferably in the may be readily adjusted vertically for selective Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a mechanical refrigerator illustrating the position of the implement when not in use;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the operative position of implement;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified support.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a standard mechanical refrigerator is illustrated at H] with the door open, so as to show the relation of the elements of the present invention with the con-- ventional refrigerator with which it cooperates including a freezing unit, generally indicated at 1 II and forming a. freezing chamber I2 which is divided into sections by a plurality of shelves l3 adapted to support a plurality of ice cube trays l4, having the usual handles l5. Thefreezing unit is provided with the usual guard or shield plate l6.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. l which cooperates with the above men- 'tioned refrigerator parts is generally indicated by the reference character 20, and may be mounted on a bracket 2! which in turn is secured by screws'22, or the like, to a stationa y part of the refrigerator. In the illustrated embodiment the bracket as shown is attached to the shield l6 adjacent the ice cube trays ill but it is to be understood that the bracket could as well be at- 0 tached to any other part of the refrigerator or could be built into the walls or top of the refrigerator and be within the scope of the invention. The bracket 2| is formed with a forwardly projecting arm 23 more clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and having a depressed central portion 24. A slot 25 is preferably stamped out of the arm 23 and terminates at its inward end in an'enlarged portion 26. A connecting member extends through the slot and is so constructed and arranged as to slide freely through'the enlarged portion 26, but to be gripped by the narrow slot 25 at a plurality of points throughout its length.

form of a chain 21 as illustrated, the individual links of which will serve as the gripping abutment for engaging the narrow slot 25. The lowermost end of the connecting member is connected at 28 to a lever or implement 3!], but may i be secured to the implement or lever 30 at. any point intermediate its ends depending upon the amount of leverage desired. Chain 2'! thus pro- 1 vides a support for the implement 30 whereby it tray desired from its support. Moreover, such support enables an operator to swing the implement across the front of the trays to engage that portion of the tray most tightly frozen in and dislodge it from its support. The opposite end of the chain carries a ball 29 which is of a size suflicient to prevent its passing through the enlarged portion 26 of the slot. The implement 30 is formed at one end with a hooked portion 3| with which an operator may engage a tray to pry it loose from the shelf, and at the opposite end with a handle 32 to be grasped by the operator when the removal of a tray is desired.

Normally the implement 30 may rest in the depressed portion of the arm 23, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and full lines: in Fig. 2. When it is desired to remove one of the ice cube trays which may be solidly frozen in the freezing unit, an operator may first remove the implement from the arm 23 and then adjust the chain in the enlarged portion 26 of the slot 23 until the desired vertical position of the implement 30 in front of the trays is had. A link of the chain is then slid into the narrow slot portion 25 of the arm 23, to lock the chain against any vertical movement relative to its support. The operator may then grasp the handle 32 and engage the hooked end of the implement either with the underside of the tray handle, as shown in Fig. 3, or beneath the tray, if the tray does not have the usual handles. A slight downward pressureis now exerted on the implement, the connection 23 acting as a fulcrum for the lever action of the implement 30, which will dislodge or loosen the tray and cause it to slide outwardly on the shelf so that the operator may then grasp the handle of the tray or the tray itself and withdraw it from the shelf.

Referring to Fig. 5, I have shown ,a modified embodiment of my invention wherein the bracket 2| may be dispensed with and a support for the flexible member formed by a circular opening 35 cut in the shield-or guard I 6. A portion of this opening should-be large enough to permit the chain to be adjusted therein, a narrowed slot portion 36 being provided to retain a single chain link against relative movement of the chain in the slot when the device is in use. This form of the invention is preferably employed in refrigerators while under construction.

While the embodiment of my invention herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted,

such as for instance, the employment of arigid rod or flexible rod in the place of the chain 21,

all coming within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An implement for loosening and removing each of a plurality of ice cube traysfrom a refrigerator freezing unit comprising a support positioned adjacent to and above said freezing unit trays, a member secured to and depending from said support, and a lever connected to said member 2. An implement for loosening and removing each of a plurality of ice cube trays from a refrigerator freezing unit comprising a support attachable adjacent to and above said freezing unit trays, a member secured to and adjustably mounted in said support and depending from said support, and a lever connected to said member. Y

3. In combination with a refrigerator, a freezing unit, a series of water holding trays supported within the freezing unit, a support adjacent to and positioned above said trays, a tray prying member, and a member depending from said support and connected to the prying member intermediate the ends thereof to provide a fulcrum for the prying member.

4. In combination with a refrigerator, a freezing unit, a 'series of water holding trays supported within the freezing unit, a support adjacent to and positioned above said trays, a tray prying member, and a flexible member having one end adjustably mounted in said support and the other end connected to the prying member intermediate its ends to provide a fulcrum for the prying member.

5. In combination with a refrigerator, a freez- 5 ing unit, a series of water holding trays sup ported within the freezing unit, a support adjacent said trays, a selective tray engaging member, and a member having one end connected to said support and the other end connected to the tray engaging member intermediate its ends to provide a fulcrum for the tray engaging member in all of its selected positions.

6. In combination with a refrigerator, a freezing unit, a water holding tray supported within the freezing unit, a support secured adjacent to and above said tray, a member having a universal connection with its support to permit movement in all directions relative to the tray, and a lever connected to said member adapted to engage and pry the tray from the freezing unit.

'7. In a device for loosening and removing an ice cube tray, the combination of a refrigerator, a freezing unit, a water holding tray supported within the freezing unit, a support positioned adjacent the tray, an adjustably mounted member pivotally connected to said support, and a lever attached to said member, said support and pivotal connection adapted to permit movement of the lever in all directions across the front of 4 the freezing unit to engage a portion of the tray.

8. A device for removing an ice bound tray from a refrigerator freezing unit comprising, a fulcrum member mounted adjacent said tray, and a-tray prying member operably associated with the fulcrum member and movable in all directions relative to the tray.

9. A device for removing ice bound trays from a refrigerator freezing unit comprising, a support secured to the refrigerator, and a member adjustably mounted in said support adjacent said trays for selective engagement with any one of the trays.

10. A device for removing an ice bound tray from a refrigerator freezing unit comprising, a support mounted adjacent said tray, a member connected to said support, means for locking said member in adjusted position on said support, and tray engaging means carried by the support.

11. A device for removing an ice bound tray CO from a refrigerator freezing unit, comprising, a support mounted adjacent said tray, a member adjustably mounted on said support, means for locking said member in adjusted position, and tray engaging means carried by the support.

12. An implement for removing any one of a series of ice cube trays from a refrigerator freezing unit comprising, a support adjacent to said freezing unit trays, a member adjustably supported by said support, and a second member attached to said first mentioned member and capable of selective engagement with any of said trays.

or on supports of a cooling unit of a refrigerating apparatus comprising, a fulcrum means and a member operativelv associated with the fulcrum means, said fulcrum means being adjustably 5 mounted adjacent the receptacles to permit selective engagement 01' said member with any one of the receptacles for causing the selected receptacle to be pried loose from its support upon application of force to said member.

14. In a refrigerating apparatus including a cabinet and a cooling unit having a plurality of supports for receiving a plurality of receptacles adapted to contain a substance to be congealed or frozen disposed in the cabinet, means for 15 breaking an ice bond between any one of the plurality of receptacles and its support comprising a fulcrum member and a prying member operatively associated with. the fulcrum member; said fulcrum, member being adjustably mounted adjacent said receptacles to permit selective engagement of the prying member with any one of the receptacles for causing the selected receptacle to be pried loose from its support upon application of force to said prying member.

15. In a refrigerator the combination of an evaporator, a plurality of ice trays within the evaporator, means .ior breaking the ice bond between the trays and the evaporator'comprising a support adjacent the evaporator and secured to the refrigerator and ari adjustable member mounted in the said support for selective engagement with any one of the-trays, said member being capable of exerting a force at one end of said tray whereby to lift the tray relative to the evaporator.-

16, In combination, a cooling element of a re-- irigerating system having a support for an ice tray, manually operable means for releasing the ice tray from the support, said element including a portion for receiving the force reaction of said manually operable means, said means being adjustable for rectilinear movement into a plurality of positions at different distances from said portion for tray releasing operation in. a 20 plurality of positions.

Josmn H McCANN. 

